Gas generator



' July 14, 1925.

C; A. SCOTT GAS GENERATOR Filed Jan. 16. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 T T w B Y m m i cwa Y 5 Jul 14, 1925. 1,546,111

' c. A. SCOTT GAS GENERATOR Filed Jan, 16, 2 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 //VVEN7'0/?. 24mm ,4. $0077. BY

- A TTOR/VEX Patented July 14, 1925.

UNITED STATES GARRIC A. SCOTT, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

GAS GENERATOR.

Application filed January 16, 1922. Serial No. 529,481.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARRIO A. SCOTT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Multnornah and State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Gas Generator, of which the following is the specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in internal combustion engines, where the heat in the exhaust manifold can be utilized to manufacture an inflammable gas, which will in turn be used as fuel for the engine.

The objects of my invention are, first, to provide hydrogen gas to mix with the gasoline vapor and provide a less expensive fuel; second, to utilize the heat from the exhaust in the manufacture of hydrogen gas; and, third, to provide an apparatus for the manufacture of hydrogen which can be installed on any form of internal combustion engine.

I; attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is an elevational view of the engine showing the exhaust manifold within which the gas making apparatus is assembled and indicated by the dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the center line.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the canisters showing the iron filings placed about the screen passage within.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the air valve which retains the air pressure in the air tank shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional View of the canisters taken along the line 55 in Figure 1.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The exhaust manifold 1 may be built in any form to carry the canisters 2 and 3 within, all of which is assembled in the proper position on the engine cylinder head 4 of the engine 5. The manifold is lined with some heat insulating material 6, to prevent the heat from the exhaust gases which enterthe manifold through the passages 7, from being conducted away through the metal manifold. In this manner practically all the heat can be utilized to make the gas, which will be described later herein.

The canisters are assembled within the manifold in such manner so the exhaust gases from the engine can pass about all the outer surfaces thereof, and the passages are of such size that the gas will pass from the cylinders fast enough not to cause unnecessary pressure within the manifold. Each of the canisters are fitted with a cap 8 which closes the entrance to the canisters through the tubes 9. The tubes 9 are attached to the canisters, and are welded to the manifold at the point of passage to prevent the escape of gas within.

'At another convenient place within the manifold, a coil of small pipe 10 is installed in such manner as to be in the path of the hot gases which pass through the manifold. One end of the coil passes through the manifold, and is there welded to prevent the passage of gas. This end of the pipe is extended and connected to the water tank 11 which can be installed at any convenient point near, or away from the engine. The remaining end of the coil is connected to the top canister and at the end thereof.

The end of the coil is connected to the canister in such manner as the passage therein will register with the passage through the screen tube 12 which is within the canister. The screen tube may be of any convenient form, and installed in any posi tion other than that shown in the drawing.

At the remaining end of the canister, a pipe 13 is connected in such position as to register with the screen tube within the canister, and the opposite end of said pipe is connected to the lower C2L11lSt6l':Wl1lCl1 is similar to the top canister and which has a screen tube passing through its interior.

A pipe 14: is connected to' the remaining end of the lower canister, and projects through the manifold where it is welded in place to prevent the passage of gas, and the end thereof is connected to the intake manifold 15.

An air valve 16 is provided in the cap 17 on the water tank to allow a pressure to 'be applied on the surface of the water within, which will be delivered through the water coil and canisters. The pressure can be formed by means of an air pump connected to the valve, or by other suitable methods.

Each of the canisters are filled with iron filings or chips by removing the cap 8. The filings which enclose the screen tube within the canisters do not stop the passage of the gas through the tube.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

ns'suming that the engine is in operation,- the gasoline vapor passes through the intake manifold 15 and enters the cylinders of the engine where it forms a fuel and is ignited by sparks from the electric ignition system.

When the gases have been burnt the resulting products of combustion contain a large amount of heat which they will carry to the exhaust manifold when passing from the cylinders. As the dischargedgaseous products pass the canisters within the manifold, the heat is transferred from the products to the canisters and the iron filings within. The remaining heat carried by the gas is given up to the water within the coil which is installed in the path of passage of the exhausted gas in the manifold.

when the iron filings in the canisters are heated and when the steam from the water coil comes in contact with the same, the iron filings become oxidized, the oxygen is removed and hydrogen is produced which passes through the pipe 14 to the intake manifold. The hydrogen gas produced mixes with the gasoline vapor and air and then passes to the engine cylinder where it is consumed. This process is not continuous for the reason that when the iron filings are completely oxidized the process is inopera tive and the oxidized iron filings must be removed from the canisters and other iron filings placed in the canisters in lieu thereof.- The exhaust of the motor is sufficient to heat the iron filings to a temperature sufficient when the filings are brought in contact with the steam from the water coil so that hydrogen will be formed.

It will be seen where it is a great saving of gasoline to replace part thereof by a gas that can be manufactured by the heat of the gaseous products of combustionwhich has been heretofore usually allowed to go to waste. Iron filings can be purchased at a very low cost and I have found that a few pounds will last a number of weeks.

It will be seen in the drawing that the steam enters the top canister at the end where the filings are placed in the canister. As the steam passes through the canister, the filings are forced to the opposite end of the canister as they become used. The steam enters the lower canister in the same manner with respect to the filling point for the iron filings, and the filings are forced to the op posite end in the same manner.

Having fully described my invention, I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent: I

In a gas making apparatus, the combination of an internal combustion engine manifold the interior of said manifold being linedwith heat insulating material and provided with passages to receive the gaseous products of combustion fromthe engine cylinders, and a water coil installed within said manifold, one end of said coil being connected to asuitable water supply outside of said manifold, suitable canistersinstalled within said manifold built to retain a supply of iron chips, one side of said canisters being connected with the remaining end of said coil,- a suitable pipe connecting thecanisters'; a discharge pipe leading the generated gases from said canisters to the engine cylinders upon which the apparatus is assembled;

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. y

CARRIC A. SCOTT lVit'nesses:

I. M. TETER, ERWIN J. ROWE. r 

